Wireless Access Point Location Tracking via MAC Address Whitelisting
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Solution Overview
Problem
The challenge is to accurately determine the location of a computing device making emergency calls over VoIP services, especially when GPS sensors are absent and wireless networks are unaware of their location, leading to regulatory restrictions on such calls to prevent incorrect location dispatches.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that involve clients reporting MAC addresses of nearby access points to a network infrastructure service, which maintains a whitelist of validated access points, allowing location tracking and authentication, enabling devices to provide accurate location information during communication sessions, including emergency calls.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If VoIP services are used for emergency calls, then communication flexibility is improved, but location accuracy deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a network infrastructure service as an intermediary between the VoIP client and the emergency call service. This service collects MAC addresses of access points from the client device, matches them against a whitelist database, and determines geographic location without requiring GPS sensors. The intermediary resolves the contradiction by enabling location-based emergency calls through wireless network infrastructure rather than direct device-based location measurement.
2Device complexity
If GPS sensors are not used, then device complexity is reduced, but location tracking capability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical/GPS-based location sensing system with a wireless network-based location determination system. Instead of using GPS sensors that require satellite signals and complex hardware, the system uses MAC address reporting of wireless access points and matches them against a pre-stored whitelist database to determine location. This substitution reduces device complexity while maintaining or improving location tracking reliability through network infrastructure support.
3Adaptability or versatility
If wireless networks are unaware of their location, then network portability is improved, but location-based service capability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by pre-populating a whitelist database with MAC addresses of access points and their corresponding geographic locations before the emergency call is made. The network infrastructure service maintains this database in advance, so when a client device needs location information, the matching process can quickly retrieve pre-associated location data without requiring real-time location discovery or GPS signals. This resolves the contradiction by preserving location information through pre-established network infrastructure knowledge.
4Reliability
If emergency calls are blocked, then safety is improved, but service availability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the network infrastructure service continuously monitors and validates the location of client devices making emergency calls by matching reported MAC addresses against the whitelist database. This feedback loop ensures that emergency calls are only routed when location information can be reliably determined, preventing incorrect dispatches while maintaining service availability for legitimate calls. The system dynamically enables or disables emergency calling based on successful location verification rather than implementing a blanket block.
Data Source
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AI summary
Disclosed in various examples are methods, systems, devices, and machine-readable mediums for tracking device and access point geographic locations of wireless (e.g., Wi-Fi) networks. In an example, operations performed by a device for association and use of a location include: receiving identification information (e.g., a MAC address) that identifies an access point of a wireless network; comparing the identification information with a list of access points (e.g., a white list) to identify an unvalidated status of the access point; communicating the identification information to the communications service; receiving a validated status for the access point and a geographic location for the wireless network from the communications service; and performing a communication action with the communication service, using the wireless network, based on the geographic location and the validated status. Further operations involving evaluating the access point status and updating the list of access points, are also disclosed.